Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS took the budget smartphone market by storm last year with its feature-loaded first-gen ZenFone series. The company launched several devices in the first ZenFone series, out of the lot, the ASUS ZenFone 5 was one of the most interesting offering. It was among the first few smartphones to offer 2GB of RAM in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment. Now the brand recently launched its second-gen ZenFone series smartphones in India. Under the ZenFone 2 series, the vendor offers four different devices, all carrying large 5.5-inch displays and Intel Atom processors. From the ZenFone 2 series, the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML model is the most affordable offering, which offers stiff competition to the last year’s ASUS ZenFone 5.
If you are finding it hard to choose between the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML and ZenFone 5 as your next smartphone, let’s put them on the table for the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML vs ZenFone 5 showdown.
ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML vs ZenFone 5: Comparison of best of the ZenFone Devices
Design
The ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML and ZenFone 5, both smartphones offer premium appealing body with plastic rear panels. The ZenFone 5 measures 10.34 around the waist and weighs just 145 grams. The ZenFone 2 on the other hand looks more premium with a different plastic rear panel that emulates brushed steel, though it has a thicker waistline of 10.90mm and weighs a bit more at 170 grams. In Addition, the ZenFone 2 has its volume rocker keys placement on the rear panel, right below the camera. Overall, in terms of design, the ZenFone 2 is a more appealing offering.
Display
Last year’s ASUS ZenFone 5 sports a 5-inch HD display with a tad thick bezels around the display, the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML on the other hand flaunts a 5.5-inch HD screen. Though the ZenFone 2 comes with a bigger display, but it’scolour production capability is lower than the ZenFone 5, as it offers a pixel density of 267ppi, slightly less than the ZenFone 5’s 294ppi.
Camera
The ASUS ZenFone 5 offers mediocre camera features in the price range it’s being offered in. The smartphone comes with an 8MP primary shooter with autofocus and an LED flash, and a 2MP secondary snapper. The ZenFone 2 ZE550ML on the other hand sports a solid 13MP rear camera with a dual-tone LED flash and a 5MP secondary snapper for quality selfies.
Software & Storage
On the software front, the ASUS ZenFone 2 has the latest version of ZenUI, and runs Android Lollipop out of the box. The latest ZenUI comes with several new features over its previous iteration along with the latest Lollipop goodies. The ZenFone 5 on the other hand runs Android KitKat. However, the smartphone is slated to receive its Android Lollipop treatment in May this year, so all the new ZenUI and Lollipop goodies will eventually reach the smartphone.
Talking about the storage, the ZenFone 5 is available in 8GB and 16GB of internal memory variants, the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML on the other hand has a single choice of 16GB model. Both the smartphones support additional 64GB of memory via microSD cards. So, when it comes to software and storage features, the ZenFone 5 and ZenFone 2 ZE550ML offer almost similar specs.
Configuration & Connectivity
The ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML is powered by a 64-bit 1.8GHz quad-core Intel Z3560 processor, aided by a healthy 3,000mAh battery. The ZenFone 5 utilizes a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Atom Z2560 CPU, further supported by a 2,110mAh battery. Processors of both the smartphones are further supported by 2GB of RAM. So in terms of performance and battery life, the ZenFone 2 ZE550ML is certainly a better device than the ZenFone 5. In terms of connectivity, the ZenFone 5 offers dual-SIM slots, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and A-GPS. The ZenFone 2 on the other hand has the advantage of having support for 4G LTE connectivity.
Conclusion
The ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML vs ZenFone 5 showdown has revealed that the former offers much better specifications. However, it’s worth mentioning that both smartphones offer specs to cater their respective price ranges. The ZenFone 5 is for the pocket-conscious buyers, as the 8GB model of the phone costs Rs 7,999, and 16GB variant is being offered at Rs 9,999. The ZenFone 2 ZE550ML on the other hand, priced at Rs 12,990, is for those who can shell a few extra bucks for better specs. So which one of these ASUS ZenFones have caught your attention? Share your views in the comments.
Author Bio:The author is an expert in mobile technology and loves to write about different handsets launched. He has listed the specifications ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE550ML for the readers to make an informed buying decision.